Bucket structure



'Nov. 6, 1934. E. LE R. HARRINGTON BUCKET STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 17, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Nov. 6, 1934. E. LE R. HARRINGTON BUCKET STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 17. 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS E. LE R. HARRINGTON 1,979,832

BUCKET STRUCTURE 7 Filed Dec. 17, 1932 s Sheets-Shea; 5

' Nov. 6, 1934.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 6, 1934 Uirs 'TATE BUCKET STRUCTURE Application December 17,1932, Serial No. 647,756

11 Claims.

My invention relates to bucket structures and particularly to an improved device of this character which is suitable for conveying building gates that are remotely controlled and those havmaterial, such as concrete, from a source of sup- 7 I ply to the place of use and there discharging it.

One object of my invention is to provide a device-of the above-indicated character, which will be simple and durable in'construction, economical to manufacture and eifective in its operation.

Another object of my invention is to facilitate and expedite building operations involving the use of concrete or any other operation involving the conveyance of material from one place to another.

Another object of my invention is'to prevent damage to such a bucket, or conveyor, by contact I with surrounding objects.

Another object of my invention is to utilize the forces of the bucket load, whether the bucket be filled or empty, to control a discharge gate there- 'of, whereby to reduce the effort ordinarily required in operating such gates, and to more positively close the same.

Another object of my invention is to provide a bucket structure that shall permit the use of a discharge gate thereforof substantially slidingdoor character, which may readily be operatediby a minimum of effort and from a distance, irrespective of great lateral pressure against the gate.

Another object of my invention is to provide a combined bucket support and discharge-gate control structure that shall avoid interference between a plurality of cables or like elements,"and appurtenant parts embodied therein or associated therewith.

'With such objects in view, as well as other advantages which may be incident to the utilizationof the improvement, the invention consists in the parts and combinations thereof hereinafter set forth and claimed, with the understanding that the several necessary elements constituting the same may be varied in proportion, arrangement and texture, without departing from the nature and scope of the invention.

Although not so limited, my invention relates more particularly to buckets for handling relatively heavy-weights, such as two cubic yards, and greater quantities, of concrete, in which the weightagainst'the discharge gate is ordinarily too'great to permit effective manual manipulation of the gate.

By having the gate remotely controlled, the bucket contents mayreadily be deposited at positions inaccessible or inconvenient 1 for manual control, asunder water.

figures, and

' In building or construction work, discharge or dump buckets of various types have heretofore been employed, including those having discharge ing gate-control elements disposed at the sides or other exposed positions, whether of the remotely or locally-controlled type.

As to the remotely-controlled buckets, the control mechanism is usually a separate entity, that is, it is operated independently of the weight of '65 the bucket and its contents, andrequires an entirely separate operating force.

With respect to all buckets, whether of the re- 'motely or locally-controlled type, those heretofore employed also have the gate-control mecha- 70 'nism, or portions thereof, in exposed positions,

whereby damage thereto, by contact with adjacent'bodies, is likely to occur.

A so-called two-line bucket hasheretoforebeen employed but, in such structure, one line supports '75 the bucket, at all times, and the other merely controls the gate; the structure also being subject to interference between the lines.

It is my aim to avoid the above-mentioned objections and to this end I provide a combined bucket support, gate-control mechanism and other structure whereby both the position and movement of the gate are advantageously affected by the bucket weight,the gate-control mechanism is protected against damage by contact with surrounding objects, the lines and appurtenant parts are ensured against interference with each other; the gate is protected against injury by being held off the ground or other resting base for the structure as a whole, the structure is rendered more rugged and durable, and other advantages are obtained.

Figure 1, of the accompanying drawings, is a side view, partially in elevation and partially in section, parts also being broken away for clearness, of one form of bucket structure constructed in accordance with my invention; the gate being shown in its closed position.

Figure 2 is a View, similar to Figure 1, but showing the gate in its open position.

Figure 3 is a top-plan view of the structure shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4.

Figure 4 is a view taken at right angles to that of Figure 1 with certain parts in section in order to bring out more clearly some of the details of the construction.

Figure 5 is a view, in side elevation, of a modified form of bucket structure embodying portions of the invention of the structure of the previous Figure 6 is a View, in side elevation, of the structure of Figure 5, taken at right angles thereto.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, the device comprises, in general, a support or resting base of inverted substantially cup-shaped character, including a cylindrical side wall 2, a bottom reinforcing edge member 3 and a top-wall member 4; a bucket, or bucket-body portion proper, including an upper body portion 6. a lower body portion 7, a top-edge reinforcing member 9 and a bottom-edge trim member 10; a gate comprising side portions or wings 14 and a bottom-wall or gate portion, proper, 15; and a combined bucket-support and gate-control mechanism including a plate 1'7, pivot pins 18 supported by brackets 20 on the sides of the upper bucket portion 6, to which the plate 1'7 is operatively connected by a tube 22 and members 23, and rods or members 25 connected between the gate side walls 14 and the members 23 within the lateral limits of the base wall 2. The brackets 20 are secured tothe portions 6 and 9, as by rivets 26, and are disposed eccentric to the load axis of the bucket, to the right of center, as viewed in Figures 1 and 2. The plate 1'7, the tube 22 and the members 23 constitute, in eifect, a bail which is pivoted to the upper portion of the bucket by the pins 18 in the brackets 20.

Although specified as of inverted substantially cup-shape, the supporting means or base, comprised of the members 2, 3 and 4, may be of other suitable and equivalent construction of a nature such that the lower bucket portion, the gate and other parts are protected, at the sides and from below, against damaging contact with surrounding objects and the ground, or other resting base; the gate-control means being confined substantially entirely within the lateral limits of the supporting means.

The side wall 2, preferably of sheet metal and provided with apertures 2'7, to reduce the weight of the structure, is welded, riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the members, or rings, 3 and 4, which are preferably of L-section for rigidity. This section also affords effective surface-contact area between the ring 3 and the side wall 2, and between the ring 4 and the upper bucket portion 6.

The upper bucket portion 6, preferably of sheet metal and of cylindrical or other suitable shape, may be integrally, or otherwise suitably, joined to the edge reinforcing member, or ring, 9 and to the lower bucket portion '7.

The portion '7 is also preferably of sheet metal and tapered or shaped to constitute a funnel, or hopper, for feeding the contents thereof downwardly.

Adjacent to the upper bucket portion 6, the lower portion '7 is substantially a true frusto cone but departs from this shape, toward its lower end, to render its bottom discharge opening of substantially oval-shape having its major axis substantially parallel to the tube 22.

The member 10 is of corresponding oval closedloop shape, in plan view, and edge-welded, or otherwise suitably secured, to the bottom edge of the lower body portion 7.

Viewed parallel to its plane, or at right angles to its axis, from the side, as seen in Figures 1 and 2, the loop member 10 has a bottom contour closely conforming to the gate portion 15 and closely related thereto to prevent leakage of the concrete. The portion 15 constitutes an increment of a cylinder side having its longitudinal axis in the axes of pivot pins that are mounted between journals in the wall 2 and in the bracket 31. The brackets are preferably of sheetmetal angular construction, welded, at the ends, to the lower bucket portion '7, as better seen in Figure 4, to provide perpendicular portions in which the pins 30 are disposed.

The gate portion 15 is suitably connected, as by welding, to the gate side portions 14 which, in side view, are in the form of disc segments having apex portions 32 thereof mounted on the pins 30.

Viewed edgewise, as in Figure 4, the segments 14 converge relatively, in the downward direction, in accordance with the different diameters of the lower bucket portion '7 adjacent to the pins 30 and. adjacent to the gate portion 15, and are provided with inside reinforcing plates 34, which conform to portions 35 thereof, to which the rods are pivotally connected, as by end clevi members 3'7.

Clevis members 38, similar to the clevis members 3'7, are provided on the members or plates 23 and cooperate with nuts 39, or other suitable means, for adjusting the rods lengthwise between the members 37 and 38, and holding the rods in adjusted position.

The portions 35, and similar portions 40 on the members 23, are preferably in the form of eyes for pivotal attachment to the clevis members 3'7 and 38, as by pins 42 and 43.

In the above-described structure, the different diameters, of the parts 2 and 6, render the part 2 a protective buffer for lateral contact with surrounding objects, to prevent damage to substantially all of the remainder of the structure, the

top wall, or ring, 4, of the base support having apertures 45, one of which shows more clearly in Figure 3, through which the rods 25 extend.

The arrangement of parts also provides lateral space to accommodate, and protect, the gate laterally, in open position, and protects it from below, in closed position, by supporting it off the ground.

The, plate 17 has portions 47 and 48 providing eyes, at opposite sides of the pivot axis 18--18 of the bail, for the reception, respectively, of cables 49 and 50, in any suitable manner, as by the use of hooks, or by looping the cables through the eyes and splicing, or tying, the cables, as shown;

the cables being suspended, as from the end of a long boom of a derrick or from a cableway carriage.

The eyes 4'7 and 48, being located a substantial distance apart, the cables 49 and 50 are precluded from interference with each other.

The plate 1'7, preferably of sheet or plate metal, is fixed, as by welding, to the tube 22 which constitutes a shaft and which is constructed as a tube for strength and lightness of Weight.

In the closed position of the gate, as shown in 3.,

Figure 1, the weight of the bucket is supported by the load line 49 which, under load tension, has its axis to the left of the load axis of the bucket. This slight off-center, or eccentric, relation of the load-line axis of the cable 49 to the load axis of the bucket, causes the weight of the bucket and its contents to impart, by longitudinal compressive thrust in the rods 25, positive closing force on the gate; the ultimate closed position of which is determined by stop portions 52 of the members 23 against the top of the bucket.

A substantial amount of tension may exist in .the dump line 50 and yet not disturb the positively closed condition of the gate, so long as the load is not fully shifted from the load line to the dump line, or the dump line is not otherwise subjected to tension comparable to that which would beeffected by such shifting.

However, when it is desired to discharge the contents of the bucket, the load is shifted, .from a. remote point, in a manner not germane to this invention, from the load line 49 to the dumpline 50, whereby the gate moves counter-clockwise abcut its pivot pins 30 and the parts assume the positions shown in Figure 2.

Thus, although the gate portion 15 is of substantially sliding-door character and may have a very great load weight imposed laterally against it, it may readily be moved in opposition to this weight, by employing the force of the weight, in the manner set forth, and not require relatively great separate, or additional, force, as with gates heretofore employed.

The parts are so constructed and arranged, with the bail pivot close to the center line of the bucket, that the bucket will not be unduly tipped by the dumping operation, even though a very considerable force is required to open the gate by reason of the load against it.

In the form or" my invention shown in Figures 5 and 6, the construction and operation are similar to those of the device above described, except in details, such as having the lower protective base, of the bucket, of the same diameter as the upper part of the bucket, and having the connecting rods or tubes 54, corresponding to the rods 25, under tension, instead of compression, in the closed position of the gate.

In this form, the gate 55 also moves counterclockwise about its pivot-supporting pins 56, as viewed in Figure 5, from its closed to its open position, and the protective, or supporting, base is provided with an opening 57 to accommodate portions of the gate in its open position as indicated in dot and dash lines in Figure 5.

The bail comprises a pair of transverse arched portions 58, in the place of the bail plate 17 and the tube 22 of the above-described structure, but is similarly movably mounted on the bucket, as by brackets 59 and pivot pins 60.

The rods 54, instead of extending through openings in the top of the base,'are disposed outside the bucket and the base, and connected to the bucket gate 55 by arms 62 extending through openings 63 in the sides of the base. Stop portions 64 limit the closing movement of the bucket, by engaging the top of the bucket. Reinforcing edge strips or members 65 are disposed about the opening 5'7 and about an opening 66, at the opposite side of the base, which is provided to reduce the weight of the structure and to provide access to the bucket and other parts.

In each of the structures, the suspension, or supporting, means not only controls the gate to more forcibly hold it in closed position but to provide actuating force for effecting the opening and closing of the gate.

In each of the structures also, the construction and operation thereof are materially improved, the work for which they are adapted is greatly facilitated, damage heretofore incurred is substantially precluded and the invention effects a general advance over similar structures heretofore suggested and employed in the art to which it relates.

I claim:

1. A bucket having a shell with a bottom discharge opening, a bail member pivoted to such shell, two points for attachment of hoisting lines to said bail, so positioned that when the load is transferred from one line to the other the bail will turn on its pivots, a gate pivoted to the shell vfor closing. the bottom opening, and an operating connection between said gate and said bail which will open or close the gate when load is transferred from one hoisting line to another. 2. A bucket having a bottom discharge opening, a gate for controlling said opening, a bail member having a pair of spaced load supporting points, said bail member being pivoted onL-i the bucket upon an axis located between said load supporting points, and an operating connection between the gate and the bail, said gate being held in closed position by virtue of its connection to the ball when the bucket is sup-1,

ported from one side of the bail pivot and being held in open position when the bucket is supported from the other side of the bail pivot.

3. A bucket having a bottom discharge opening, an outside control gate for said openinsnz means forming a supporting base extending below the plane of the gate, a pivoted bail mem her, an operating connection between the gate and the bail, and means for suspending the load from a point on the bail at each side of its pivot, 109

saidgate being held in closed position when the bucket. is suspended from one side but opened when the load is suspended from the other side.

4. A bucket comprising a shell with a funnellike portion discharging through a bottom opening, a surrounding apron-like portion forming a base extending below the funnel-like portion, a gate pivoted between said portions to swing across said bottom opening, a pivoted bail member, an operating connection between the gateq m and the bail, and means for suspending the load from a point on the bail at each side of its pivot, said gate being held in closed position when the bucket is suspended from one side but opened when the load is suspended from the other side.

5. A bucket having a bottom discharge opening, a radially swinging gate for controlling said opening, a pivoted bail member, an operating connection between the gate and the bail, and

means for suspending the load from a point on the bail at each side of its pivot, said gate being held in closed position when the bucket is suspended from one side but opened when the load is suspended from the other side.

6. A bucket having a bottom discharge opening, a gate for controlling said opening, a bail pivoted to the bucket, an operating connection between the gate and the bail, means for suspending the bucket by the bail from a point on one side of the bail pivot, said gate being posi- 13o tively held in closed position by virtue of said operating connection when the bucket is so suspended, and a second means for suspending the bucket by the bail from a point on the other side of the bail pivot, said bail rotating on its pivot to open the gate by virtue of said connection when the bucket is suspended by said second means, each of said means for suspending the bucket at all times remaining on its respective side of the pivot regardless of whether or not 1y into the space between the shell and the apron 15g to permit discharge of material, a twin bail for suspending the bucket pivoted to the shell, and an operating connection between the gate and the bail, said gate being opened when the bucket is supported by the bail from a point on one side of its pivot and closed when the bucket is sup ported by the bail on the opposite sideof its pivot.

8. In a bucket having a bottom discharge opening controlled by a pivoted gate, the provision of a pivoted supporting bail with an operating connection to the gate characterized by the fact that the gate is positively held in open position by the weight of the bucket when the bucket is suspended on the bail from a point on one side of the bail pivot and positively held in closed position by the weight of the bucket when the bucket is suspended on the bail from a point on the opposite side of the bail pivot.

9. In combination, a bucket having an opening, a gate for said opening movably mounted on the bucket, a bail having pivotal connection to the bucket, bucket-supporting portions on the bail at opposite sides of said pivotal connection, and gate-control means operatively connected between the gate and said bail whereby the gate may be opened or closed by shifting the load from one supporting portion to the other, each of said bucket supporting portions at all times remaining on its respective side of the bail pivot regardless of whether or not the gate be open or closed.

10. In combination, a bucket having an opening, a gate for said opening movably mounted on the bucket, supporting means for the bucket relatively movably connected thereto eccentrically to the load axis thereof, and gate-control means operatively connected between the gate and said supporting means.

11. In combination, a bucket including a tapered lower portion providing a bottom opening of oval-shape and an edge about the opening defining an increment of a cylinder, a gate pivoted to the bucket about the axis of said cylinder parallel to the major axis of said opening and having a closure portion for said opening conforming to said increment, alined pivot pins secured to the bucket off the center thereof, members mounted on said pins having stop portions cooperating with the bucket, a bail having suspension portions at opposite sides of the bucketload axis, a tubular shaft connecting the bail to said members, a protective base secured to the bucket and extending from a position between upper and lower portions thereof to a position 1 below the bottom thereof, and rods pivotally, and longitudinally adjustably, connected between said gate and said members.

EDWARD LE ROY HARRINGTON. 

